Sandiganbayan orders arrest of ex-Iloilo mayor

A FORMER Iloilo town mayor was arrested while at a funeral wake afternoon of Feb 2, 2019 in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

The Sandiganbayan’s 4th Division issued the bench warrant against former Barotac Nuevo Mayor Pedro “Indo” Hautea.

Senior Inspector Kent Albert Lepsia, Barotac Nuevo police chief, said they received the bench warrant on Jan. 21, 2019 and tried serving it to Hautea but he was not at his house in Bonifacio Street, Barotac Nuevo.

“We later received information that he was seen at a wake that’s why we move for his arrest,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hautea claimed surprise of the bench warrant issued by Sandiganbayan.

He said he did not receive any notice from the court.

But he theorized that the case may have stemmed from a project at Barangay Tinurian, Barotac Nuevo when he was still the town mayor.

The project was for the construction of a flea market for P75,000 and an P18,000 budget for labor.

Hautea said he was not aware that the municipal engineer did not finish the project.

Following his arrest, Hautea was brought to the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital for medical check-up.

Lepsia said the doctor advised that he be placed on hospital arrest.

Hautea has been recovering from a wound on his lower front chest.

It was not elaborated, though, what kind of medical procedure Hautea underwent in recent weeks.